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{{Short description|Cuban musician (1883–1946)}}
'''Jaime Prats Estrada''' (29 March 1883, in [[Sagua la Grande]] – 3 January 1946, in [[Havana]]) was a Cuban [[flautist]], composer and orchestral director. He also played the [[clarinet]], violin, [[double bass]] and piano. He started to study music at seven, and in 1893 went to [[Cienfuegos]], where he continued to study music as well as taking a first degree, graduating at 17.<ref>Orovio, Helio (1981). ''Diccionario de la música cubana''. La Habana. p. 306</ref>
In 1899 he could be found in Havana playing first flute in the orchestra of the Azzali Opera company, with which he toured several countries of the Americas. On return, he took the post of director of the Municipal band of Sagua la Grande. He graduated from the [[Carlos Alfredo Peyrellade Conservatory|Conservatorio Peyrellade]] in 1904, and from 1906 directed orchestras of theatrical companies, touring with them again to Central America. In 1913 he graduated as a doctor of [[pharmacy]]. He worked as musical director of the [[Cuban musical theatre#Bufo|bufo]] company of [[Arquímedes Pous]] when it went to [[New York City]].
In 1922 he founded the [[Early Cuban bands#Cuban jazz bands|Cuban Jazz Band]] in Havana, one of the first of its type in Cuba. The personnel, all Cubans, included his son [[Rodrigo Prats]] on violin, the great flautist/saxophonist [[Alberto Socarrás]], who later emigrated to New York, and Pucho Jiménez on [[slide trombone]]. The line-up would probably also have included double bass, kit drum, banjo, and cornet.
His last years were devoted to teaching the history of music at the Iranzo Conservatory, and giving classes on [[harmony]] and [[Musical composition|composition]] at the Conservatorio Ramona Sicardó. He composed the [[bolero]] "Ausencia", and other pieces.<ref>Giro Radamés (2007). ''Diccionario enciclopédico de la música en Cuba, Vol. 3''. La Habana. p. 258.</ref>
== References ==
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[[Category:1883 births]]
[[Category:1946 deaths]]
[[Category:Cuban flautists]]
[[Category:Cuban composers]]
[[Category:Cuban male composers]]
[[Category:Cuban conductors (music)]]
[[Category:Cuban multi-instrumentalists]]
[[Category:Musicians from Havana]]
[[Category:20th-century conductors (music)]]
[[Category:Cuban male musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century flautists]]